An array of tents. Claire Wilcox/NYT WirecutterWe started by researching the most popular tent models, and consulting with experts who could help us identify what to look for in a great car camping tent. We referenced our life experiences, and interviewed friends, both novices and seasoned campers, as we gathered a cohort of tents to test.Then we took our tents into the field, enlisting our friends with kids to help us. On multiple trips to campsites in Arizona, California, and Hawaii over nearly ten years, we evaluated more than 40 tents according to the following criteria:Capacity: We wanted to find tents for couples and families that felt roomy and comfortable to occupy. For two people, we decided that a large three-person or small four-person tent (with an area between 40 to 60 square feet) offers optimal comfort and space for gear. For families of three to five, a six-person tent (around 80 to 100 square feet) is best, ideally with a minimum height of six feet. As Helen Olsson, author The Down and Dirty Guide to Camping with Kids advised, “Bigger is better when it comes to car camping.” A diagram of usual sleeping arrangements for tents. REIStructural integrity: We looked for tents with a stable architecture and superior strength in winds and rain. After testing dozens of tents, we quickly realized that dome-style tents, with their classic X structure and continuous arched shape, offer significantly more stability than cabin-style tents, which have broad, flat sides and more acutely angled poles.Adequate weatherproofing and durability: We focused on three-season models, ensuring they could withstand high winds and driving rain. We looked for tent fabrics that had adequate waterproofing, well-seamed floors, and fabrics that could withstand wear and tear. One of the experts we consulted, Bob Howe, explained that when it comes to protecting a tent’s lifespan, the floor is key, and two lightweight layers are often better than one heavy one. He suggested campers should always use a groundsheet, or footprint, with their tent. Most of the time, brands sell matching footprints separately, but some of the models we recommend, such as our top pick and runner-up pick for couples, include them.The right materials for the job: For car camping, polyester is generally preferred over nylon for walls and rain flies. Polyester is stiffer, heavier, and less susceptible to UV damage, and it doesn’t absorb water like nylon. A fabric’s rip strength is measured by something called denier, which measures a fiber’s diameter. While 40 to 150 denier is a typical range for car-camping tents, we looked for tents with 60 denier fabrics and above. As for poles, aluminum is lighter and easier to assemble, but it’s typically more expensive. Fiberglass-and-steel poles are usually trickier to fit, but they can be stronger in high winds. We looked for tents that used high-quality materials, like aluminum poles, and durable polyester fabric. Claire Wilcox/NYT WirecutterPFAS-free: In 2025, California became the first state to ban the use of knowingly added PFAS in most textiles, due to health and environmental concerns. And a number of other states have limited their use in a variety of consumer goods. Previously, PFAS had been commonly used to make fabrics water-resistant, and a number of our longstanding tent recommendations used them for this purpose. All of the tents we recommend are now PFAS-free, and we have tested any new versions of each of our picks to make sure their water-resistance is still up to snuff. So far, we haven’t noticed any problematic differences. We’ll continue to observe the tents over time and report back.Ease of setup: We prioritized tents that a single person could erect quickly and intuitively, even without instructions. All of our selections are free-standing, which means they don’t require staking to stay upright (though it’s always a good idea to start the pitching process by staking down your tent, so it doesn’t fly away). A quintet of tents on Oahu’s North Shore. Claire Wilcox/NYT WirecutterAffordability: Car camping tents don’t need to be precious items, but they shouldn’t be disposable, either. In 2025, we found no tents under $125 worth considering, and good tents typically cost somewhere between $400 and $600, depending on the size. Still, we sought more-affordable options where we could.Extra features: We also considered factors like stake design, pole arrangements, rain-fly tie-downs, door construction, zipper strength, interior pockets, privacy, vestibules, and headroom to evaluate overall potential for comfort and enjoyment.
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